Anti-slip table top pillow

ABSTRACT

A footrest device has a protective cushioning layer between one&#39;s feet and a tabletop. The footrest device protects the tabletop with a stabilizing material that grips the table and provides the user with an insulated envelope in which one can place their feet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage application of international patentapplication number PCT/US12/21392, filed Jan. 13, 2012, which claims thebenefit of priority of U.S. provisional patent application number61/433,108, filed Jan. 14, 2011, the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footrest devices and, moreparticularly, to an anti-slip table top pillow for insulating andresting one's feet.

People regularly rest and expose their feet on hard living roomsurfaces, such as coffee tables. The act of resting one's feet on acoffee table is an uncomfortable, unstable and uninsulated experiencethat may damage the coffee table itself.

Normal pillows are not stable when they are placed on flat, hardsurfaces because they easily slide and do not remain in place when oneplaces their feet on top. Other cushioning devices also do not have aninsulated envelope in which one can place their feet.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved foot rest device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a footrest device comprises abase; a cover enclosing at least a top side of the base; an anti-slipsurface attached to a bottom side of the base; and a hood attached tothe base, the hood forming an enclosure adapted to accept a user's feettherewithin.

In some embodiments, the hood is removably and replaceably attached tothe base. For example, the hood can be attached to the base with one ormore hook-and-loop fasteners. In some embodiments, a pillow can bedisposed between the cover and the top side of the base. In someembodiments, the cover is removable from the pillow. In someembodiments, the hood is shaped so as to facilitate the insertion of auser's feet into an enclosure that it provides.

In another aspect of the present invention, a footrest device comprisesa pillow forming a base of the footrest device; a cover enclosing thepillow; an anti-slip surface attached to a bottom side of the base; anda hood removably and replaceably attached to the base, the hood formingan enclosure adapted to accept a user's feet therewithin.

In further aspects of the present invention, a footrest device isdisclosed that comprises a base having an anti-slip surface and a hoodcoupled to the base so as to provide an enclosure for receiving at leasta user's feet. In some embodiments, the anti-slip surface can have athickness equal to or less than about one inch (about 2.54 centimeters),e.g., in a range of about 1/64^(th) to about ½ inch. In someembodiments, the anti-slip surface can comprise polyvinyl chloride(PVC). In some embodiments, the footrest can further comprise a covercoupled to the base so as to provide a contact surface for the user'sfeet. In some embodiments, the hood is collapsible while in otherembodiments the hood has a rigid structure. In some embodiments, thehood is removably and replaceably attached to the base.

In further aspects of the invention, a footrest is disclosed thatcomprises a pillow having a lower anti-slip surface and an upper surfaceadapted to provide a contact surface for a user's feet, and a hood thatis coupled to the pillow to provide an enclosure for receiving at leastthe user's feet. In some embodiments, the anti-slip surface has athickness less than about one inch. In some embodiments, the anti-slipsurface comprises PVC.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a footrest device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the footrest device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the footrest device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the footrest device of FIG. 1 in acollapsed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a footrestdevice having a protective cushioning layer between one's feet and aresting surface, such as a tabletop. In some embodiments, the footrestdevice engages with the resting surface, e.g., the tabletop, with astabilizing material that grips the surface (e.g., the surface of thetable), for example, to inhibit slippage, and provides the user with aninsulated envelope in which the user can place his/her feet.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, in this illustrative embodiment, afootrest device 10 can include a base 12, a cover 16 enclosing a top endof the base 12, an anti-slip surface 22 attached to a bottom end of thebase 12, and a hood 14 coupled to the base 12, e.g., in this embodimentattached to the sides and back end of the base 12, so as to provide anenclosure for receiving, e.g., a user's lower legs and/or feet.

The base 12 may anatomically support and cushion the lower legs and feetof a user when the footrest device 10 is placed on a surface. In someembodiments, the base 12 can be made of a soft material. In someembodiments, the base 12 may be made of foam, memory foam, rubber,plastic, gel, fluid, cloth, feathers, or synthetic material. In someembodiments, the base 12 can be anatomically contoured to comfort theuser's feet and legs. The size of the base 12 may depend on the user'srequirements. In some embodiments, the base 12 can be less than 5 feetlong, less than 3 feet deep, and less than 1 foot high, typically, about12 to 24 inches long, about 10-20 inches deep, and about 2-10 incheshigh. The base 12 may include a cushion or a pillow 24.

The anti-slip surface 22 may be placed on the bottom side of the base12. The anti-slip surface 22 may be attached to the side of the base 12that contacts the surface on which the footrest 10 may be placed. Theanti-slip surface 22 may prevent the base 12 from moving during use. Theanti-slip surface 22 may be made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC),polypropylene, rubber, synthetic rubber, foam, gel or other surfacesthat can safely provide a non-abrasive/non-slip surface 22. In someembodiments, the anti-slip surface 22 can have a thickness that is equalto or less than about one inch, for example, a thickness in a range ofabout 1/64^(th) to about 1/2 inch. The anti-slip surface 22 may vary insize and shape, however, in many embodiments, it will not exceed thebottom length and depth dimensions of the base 12.

The cover 16 may provide the contact surface on which the user may placetheir feet and legs. The cover 16 may be made of a soft material. Insome embodiments, the cover 16 may be made of fleece, fabric, vinyl,polyester, or cloth material. The cover 16 may be designed to fitsnuggly over the contours of the base 12, including, for example, thepillow 24. The cover 16 may be removable from the pillow 24. The cover16 may include, for example, a zipper (not shown) for removing the coverfrom the pillow for washing, for example. Pockets (not shown) may beadded to the cover 16 for storing small items.

The hood 14 may be designed to fit into the base 12, creating anenclosure, e.g., an insulated enclosure that may keep the user's legsand feet warm. The hood 14 may extend from the sides and back of thebase 12. The hood 14 may be made of fabric, fleece, vinyl or clothmaterial, for example. The hood 14 may be connected to the bottom sideof the base 12 by various mechanisms. In some embodiments, the hood 14may be shaped to contour a user's foot, as show in FIG. 3, for example.

In some embodiments, the hood 14 can be collapsible when the user'slower legs and/or feet are not inserted in the enclosure it provides. Inother embodiments, the hood 14 can retain its shape even when the user'slower legs and/or feet are not within the enclosure it provides (thatis, the hood 14 is a rigid structure). In some embodiments, the hood 14can include a substantially flat portion that extends to asemi-cylindrical portion. In some embodiments, the substantially flatportion can be tilted relative to the bottom side of the base. FIG. 5shows one example of the footrest 10 in a state without a user's feetdisposed under the hood 14.

In some embodiments, the connection mechanism may result in a removableand replaceable connection. For example, the connection system may be ahook and loop fastener system 18, 19, such as Velcro®. In otherembodiments, the connection system may include clips, buttons ormagnets. Folding lines 20 may be included on the hood 14 to help foldthe hood 14 when removed from the base 12 and not in use.

A vibration device (not shown) may be added to the base 12 to provide amassage to the user. In some embodiments, the vibration device may beemployed in or under the pillow 24.

A user may use the footrest 20 by setting the footrest 10 on a surfaceat the appropriate distance. Then, the user may introduce his/her feeton top of the base 12 and underneath of the hood 14. This action maycompletely cover the user's feet with the fabric material of the hood 14while allowing the user to rest his/her feet on top of the base 12.Optionally, the user may place his/her feet directly on top of the hood14. The anti-slip surface 22 may stabilize the base 12 when in use,preventing the base 12 from movement due to forces placed upon it by theuser.

Due to the contour of the footrest device 10 the user may use thefootrest device as a seat cushion and/or back support device.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A footrest device comprising: a base; a coverenclosing at least a top side of the base; an anti-slip surface attachedto a bottom side of the base; and a hood attached to the base, the hoodforming an enclosure adapted to accept a user's feet therewithin.
 2. Thefootrest device of claim 1, where the hood is removably and replaceablyattached to the base.
 3. The footrest device of claim 1, furthercomprising a pillow disposed between the cover and the top side of thebase.
 4. The footrest device of claim 1, wherein the hood is shaped to acontour of the user's feet.
 5. The footrest device of claim 2, whereinthe hood is attached to the base with one or more hook and loopfasteners.
 6. The footrest device of claim 3, wherein the cover isremovable from the pillow.
 7. A footrest device comprising: a pillowforming a base of the footrest device; a cover enclosing the pillow; ananti-slip surface attached to a bottom side of the base; a hoodremovably and replaceably attached to the base, the hood forming anenclosure adapted to accept a user's feet therewithin.
 8. The footrestdevice of claim 7, wherein the hood is shaped to a contour of the user'sfeet.
 9. The footrest device of claim 7, wherein the hood is attached tothe base with one or more hook and loop fasteners.
 10. The footrestdevice of claim 7, wherein the cover is removable from the pillow.
 11. Afootrest device comprising: a base having an anti-slip lower surface;and a hood coupled to the base so as to provide an enclosure forreceiving at least a user's feet.
 12. The footrest device of claim 11,wherein said anti-slip surface has a thickness less than about one inch.13. The footrest device of claim 11, wherein said anti-slip surface hasa thickness in a range of about 1/64 to ½ inch.
 14. The footrest deviceof claim 11, further comprising a cover coupled to said base so as toprovide a contact surface at least for the user's feet.
 15. The footrestdevice of claim 11, wherein said anti-slip surface comprises polyvinylchloride.
 16. The footrest device of claim 14, further comprising apillow disposed between the cover and an upper surface of said base. 17.The footrest device of claim 11, wherein said hood is collapsible. 18.The footrest device of claim 11, wherein said hood is removably andreplaceably attached to said base.
 19. A footrest comprising: a pillowhaving a lower anti-slip surface and an upper surface adapted to providea contact surface for a user's feet; and a hood coupled to the pillow toprovide an enclosure for receiving the user's feet.
 20. The footrest ofclaim 19, wherein said anti-slip surface has a thickness less than aboutone inch.